Another coastal town is making changes towards public parking for beach access beginning this year as residents in surrounding towns are not happy about it.
The Emerald Isle Board of Commissioners announced they are moving forward with the proposed changes from Emerald Isle Parks and Recreation Director Alesia Sanderson where the town will offer a new paid parking program for public beach access.
Since 2011, visitors have only paid for parking between Friday-Sunday and on holidays going for $10 a day at the two main beach accesses, one at Western Regional Ocean Access off Islander Drive and the other at Eastern Regional Ocean Access on Emerald Drive.